Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Akron
Gary Hahn's Scouting Report: Akron
NC STATE (1-0, 0-0) vs. UNIVERSITY OF AKRON (0-1, 0-0)
DATE: Saturday, September 9, 2006
TIME: Kickoff: 12:03 p.m. (EDT) Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (57,583)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 11:00 a.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ESPNU
OPPONENT---There were some positives for Akron in its 34-16 loss at No. 19 Penn State last Saturday:
? Akron held Penn State to 76 rushing yards, the first time the Zips held a Big Ten opponent under 100 yards rushing since moving to the I-A ranks in 1987.
? The Zips allowed 282 yards of total offense by Penn State, the fewest total yards tallied by a Big Ten opponent since ?87.
? Each of Akron?s first two scoring drives took more than 4:30 off the clock.
? Akron dominated the time of possession over the first three quarters, holding the ball for 29:18 compared to Penn State?s 14:54. The Zips finished with a 37:29 to 21:43 time-of-possession advantage.
What Akron could not do was protect its quarterback and stop Penn State?s big play passing attack at rain-soaked Beaver Stadium. Anthony Morelli threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns in his first start. On his first pass of the season, the strong-armed junior found Deon Butler for a 42-yard touchdown to give Penn State a 7-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions also scored on their next two possessions with a 39 yard field goal and a 14-yard pass from Morelli to Jordan Norwood. It was 17-0 before a Matt Domonkos field goal from 46-yards put Akron on the scoreboard.
Trailing 17-3 at halftime, the Zips gained some momentum. PSU freshman A.J Wallace fumbled the second-half kickoff at midfield and Akron recovered. On fourth-and-7 from the Penn State 16, Zips quarterback, Luke Getsy, fired a 12-yard pass to tight end Kris Kasparek to keep the drive alive. On the next play, Dennis Kennedy scored on a 4-yard run to make it 17-9, but Domonkos missed the extra point kick.
Wallace redeemed himself on the ensuing kickoff with a 54-yard return to the Akron 40. Morelli found the sure-handed Norwood for a couple completions before connecting with Williams down the sideline for a 20-yard TD and a 24-9 lead.
Penn State was impressive on defense, holding Akron to 225 yards total offense, including a paltry 33 rushing yards. The Lions blitzed often, pressured Getsy the entire game and sacked him five times.
Getsy, a transfer from Pitt, finished 22-of-42 for 160 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His only big pass play came with the game out of reach. A perfectly thrown 27-yard TD strike to David Harvey came against a Penn State blitz with 2:45 remaining.
When he has time to throw Getsy is impressive. The 6-2, 220 pound redshirt senior, who is a candidate for the Davey O?Brien and Unitas Awards, threw for more than 3,400 yards last season and 23 touchdowns.
Getsy has his entire offensive line back from last season. Averaging more than 290 pounds, the starting linemen are all redshirt seniors with the exception of sophomore right tackle Chris Kemme.
However, a majority of Getsy?s receivers are inexperienced. Gone are Domenik Hixon and Jason Montgomery who accounted for nearly 75 percent of the receptions by the receiving corps last season.
Junior Jabari Arthur looks to be the Zips top returning big-play receiver. He caught 8 passes for 180 yards in the Zips? Motor City Bowl loss to Memphis last December, but had only 37 yards receiving at Penn State. Kasparek is one of the top tight ends in the Mid American Conference. He caught 27 passes last season and is a big target (6-6, 260). Harvey, a freshman, had three receptions for 41 yards last Saturday, including his first career touchdown.
Kennedy is the Zips featured runningback. A reserve who rushed for only 130 yards last season, the redshirt sophomore was the team?s leading rusher (25 -59.) and receiver (8-50) against Penn State.
Defensively, head coach J.D. Brookhart uses a 3-3-5 scheme and has 8 starters back from last season?s 7-6 squad that ranked No. 32 nationally in total defense (340 ypg.) and No. 71 against the run (159 ypg.).
The Zips return nine of their top-11 tacklers from a year ago. Junior rover John Mackey (95) is the leading-returning tackler, while junior LB Brion Stokes checked in with 89 stops in ?05. Mackey posted a team-best eight stops vs. Penn State and forced a fumble which led to the Zips' first touchdown.
Although he's 5-10, 213 pounds, Mackey?s position is vital in UA's 3-3 stack formation, because he can cover as a defensive back, or move up as an outside linebacker.
When Mackey lines up as a linebacker, it gives the Zips a formation that can put eight players either on or close to the line of scrimmage. It's an unconventional defensive scheme, but effective.
Leading the defensive line is redshirt senior tackle Kiki Gonzalez (6-2, 300) a third-year starter. The Lombardi Award candidate is one of the top run-stoppers in the MAC and has started 25 straight games. Senior end Jermaine Reid, led the team with seven sacks a year ago. The Zips had no sacks in last week?s opener.
The secondary is anchored by redshirt senior, Reggie Corner (5-9, 175), one of the top cornerbacks in the MAC and redshirt junior strong safety Chevin Pace (5-10, 185). Both are third-year starters.
Special teams are an area of concern for Akron. True freshman, John Stec (5-9, 180) punted for the first time in a college game last week and averaged 33.3 yards in seven attempts. Domonkos (5-8, 171, Jr.), also seeing his first game action, nailed his only field goal attempt, but all four of his kickoffs were returned.
Sophomores Andre Jones (5-11, 183) and Brandon Anderson (5-11, 170) look to be the main kick returners. Jones returned three kickoffs for a 22.3 yard average last week.
NOTES: Akron is 0-3 against ACC competition...This will be the first meeting between Akron and NC State...The Wolfpack is 8-1 all-time against current members of the Mid American Conference. State is 24-3 against non-conference opponents under Chuck Amato, including 15-1 at home...The Pack has won its last five non-conference games....Wolfpack kicker, John Deraney, has never missed an extra point kick at NC State (65-65)...Of Deraney?s career kickoffs, 48 percent have not been returned...Last season, tailbacks Toney Baker, Andre Brown and Darrell Blackman combined for 95 percent of the team?s rushing yards. Each scored a TD against Appalachian State last week. Blackman caught his first touchdown pass as a wide receiver against the Mountaineers...Blackman led the ACC in kickoff returns in ?05 with a 29.1 yard average. He averaged 28.3 vs. Appalachian St....NC State has won 6 of its last 7 games, dating back to last season, including 4 straight at home. In its last 7 regular season games, dating back to last season, the Wolfpack has allowed opponents an average of only 72 rushing yards a game...Wolfpack quarterback Marcus Stone is 6-1 as a starter.
INJURIES--NC State: C Luke Lathan-Probable, concussion; WR Lamart Barrett-Probable, hamstring; LB Ernest Jones-Probable, knee sprain; CB A.J. Davis-Questionable, hamstring; CB Phillip Holloman-Probable, hamstring; OT John Holt-Probable, knee. Akron ?OT Tim Crouch-Probable, ankle.
